by Nancy Pitman
Half the fun of going on vacation is the planning. It might start with a passing thought one day, then at some point it turns into a personal mission.
Some already have decided exactly what destination they want to visit, but many travelers can’t choose with so many options to choose from.
Here are a few tips to help get you on your way.
First you need to decide on the type of vacation that interests you.
Some choices are:
Cruising
Fully Escorted Tour
Theme Park Holiday
Warm Destinations
Skiing Adventure
Soft Adventure
Educational
Family Travel
Backpacking
Let me break these choices down a little for you and maybe it will help in your decision making. Of course if you are traveling with others find a night you can all get together and discuss your interests. Ask your group and yourselves what you are looking to get out of your vacation.
Do you want to lie on a sun soaked beach and relax your days away? Do you want to keep busy with sightseeing and activities? Are you looking for beautiful mountainous scenery and maybe see a wild animal or two? Visit many destinations each one unique in itself? Do you want bright lights and excitement? Maybe a trip without thinking about home, phones, TV’s, or stress? How about someone taking care of your every want or need? If traveling with children what would make them happy? Theme Parks? A place they can meet other kids and make new friends? Hiking and Biking?
These are just a few considerations to think about before plunking money down for your hard earned vacation.
Cruising – This is the perfect pampering vacation. Here are the perks of taking a cruise.
Upside
Cruises can fit any vacation length from 3 days and more
Luggage delivered directly to your room
A cruise line representative will meet arrival flights if you have transfers to help get you to the ship
All food is included
No decisions where to eat
Delicious Food
You can order anything you want on the menu and as much as you want
Most ships have a casino, fitness center, swimming pools, Jacuzzi’s, spa with massage and saunas
Live entertainment from plays to world class pianists included for free
Children’s programs with age groups in mind
Baby sitting
Room service 24 hours a day
Room steward 24 hours a day if needed
Cruises can attract most budgets
Visit many destinations in 1 vacation
Discounts for 3rd and 4th passenger in cabins
Discounts for children
Cruises now have Cooking Demonstrations, lectures from local experts to Harvard Professors, dance lessons, and if you have time computer classes.
Try a cruise that has rock climbing, miniature golf and yes, even surfing!
Ice Cream Parlors
Poolside Bars
Relax next to a refreshing pool in a comfy chaise lounge
Every need or want tended to
Daily schedule of shipboard activities delivered to your cabin
Choice of any destination in the world
Downside
Busy check in
Buffets can be crowded and hard to find tables during peak times
Motion sickness, although wristbands, ear patches help. If you have a bad case the onboard doctors in the infirmaries have a shot you can take that works well.
Popular shore excursions could sell out. Book early on the Internet for most desired tours.
Too much food, you can gain 5-10 pounds if you are not careful
Alcoholic beverages can be expensive
Note:
Tips are now automatically included at $10 per day per person
Escorted Tours – Traveling with a group with an experienced, well trained escort that will be there to help you throughout your trip.
Upside
Air, transfers, hotel, transportation, sightseeing, and most food is included
No baggage handling
Experienced tour guide who takes care of everything from beginning to end
Information on history, present day and future on cities, towns and villages that you are visiting or even just passing through.
Chance to make new friends
Hotels are already prebooked for you
No driving or having to ask directions or getting lost
Comfortable air conditioned motorcoaches
Someone to take care of unexpected problems
Recommendations for restaurants and optional tours
Most tours include breakfast, most dinners and some lunches
Entrance fees to sites are included
No waiting in long lines for attractions
Downside
Fast paced
Most tours are overnight stays; look for tours that have several 2 night stays if possible
You are with the group constantly
Not enough time to explore, but enough time to see if you would like to return
Note:
Tipping on last night is customary. Suggested tips are $8 per day, for exceptional service, tip a little more.
Some groups will pull money together to purchase a nice gift on top of tips
Theme Parks – Rides, Thrills and Chills!
Upside
Fun for the whole family
Quality time
Brings a stronger relationship with parents and kids
Great memories
Which ones?
Busch Gardens – Florida or Williamsburg
Coney Island – New York
Cyprus Gardens - Florida
Disneyland – Los Angeles, Paris, Hong Kong and Tokyo
Disneyland California Adventure
Disney World – Magic Kingdom, Epcot Center, Animal Kingdom, Disney Hollywood Studios, Blizzard Beach Water Park, Typhoon Lagoon Water Park, Downtown Disney – Florida
Dollywood -, Tennessee
Hersheypark – Pennsylvania
Jeepers – various destinations
Kennedy Space Center – Florida
Kennywood – Pennsylvania
Knott’s Berry Farm - California
Legoland – California
Magic Mountain – California
Opryland - Nashville
Raging Waters – various destinations
Sea World – Florida or San Diego
Silver Dollar City – Branson Missouri
Six Flags Amusement Parks – various destinations
Universal Studios – Both in Los Angeles and Florida
Europe and Britain
Black Pool Pleasure Beach – Liverpool UK
Camelot Theme Park – Lancanshire UK
Disneyland - Paris
Dreamland – Kent UK
Europa Park – Baden Wuerttenberg, Germany
Gardaland - Castelnuovu del Garda, Italy
Gullivers Theme Parks – Warrington, Matlock Bath, Milton Keynes UK
Legoland – Windsor UK, or Belund, Denmark
Parc Asterix – Plailly, France
Parc Warner Madrid – Madrid, Spain
Phantasialand – Bruhl, Germany
Port Adventura – Tarragona, Spain
Thorpe Park – Staines UK
Tivoli – Copenhagen, Denmark
Walibi World – Lelystad, Netherlands
Downside
Nonstop activity
Young children get tired and cranky
Sore feet and backs
Long lines
Warm Destinations -
Dreaming of warm tradewinds brushing over your sun soaked skin on a sandy beach? Palm trees lining beaches and streets filled with tiny shops and cafes? How about fragrant tropical flowers in full bloom? Here are some points to see if this is what you are looking for.
Upside
Warm
Lots and lots of sun
Oceans, seas and waves
Long, wide sandy beaches
Come home with a beautiful tan
The smell of coconut tanning lotions
Large well maintained resorts, small intimate hotels or home-style condos
Great for families
Perfect for Honeymoon or romantic getaways
Relaxation
Swimming
Snorkeling
Surfing
Fishing
Wind surfing
Walking along the beach at sunset
Choices
Hawaii
Caribbean
Florida
Southern California
Mexico
South Pacific: Fiji, Tahiti, and Cook Islands
Australia
The Mediterranean, Adriatic, Aegean, Tyrrhenian, Ionian, Alboran Seas, Bay of Biscay
Downside
Sunburn, other than that there is none
Skiing – Weave and wander through majestic snow capped mountains then top off your day with a soothing warm drink in front of a crackling roaring fire.
Upside
Amazing beauty
Spectacular views
Snow
Skiing
Snowboarding
Nordic skiing
Heliskiing
Sled dog rides
Sleigh rides
Sledding
Master a mountain
Ice climbing
Ice skating
Snow mobiling
Family fun
Lots of laughs
Picnic on top of the mountain
Good exercise
Thrill seekers will love black diamond runs
New skiers will love the bunny slopes
Ski School from experts who have a passion for skiing
Apres ski
Ambience
Winter festivals
Mountain tours
Choices from Gourmet restaurants to sizzling hamburgers
Downside
Cold
Price of a ski lift ticket
Weather may not be cooperative especially early in the season
Slopes could be icy
Problems with chairlifts and gondolas
Long lift lines during peak season
Busy restaurants
Make sure you stay on the trails or you could have problems
Getting run down by an inexperienced skier
Soft Adventure – Exciting but not overly dangerous or physically demanding. This kind of vacation appeals to all age groups from young school children to the lively senior citizen.
Upside
Exciting
Interesting
Fun
Unique from the normal vacation
Normally an outdoors holiday
Not monotonous
Perfect for photographers
Small groups
See how other ethnic groups live first hand
Types of soft adventure vacations:
White water rafting
Bike tours
Hiking
Windjammer sailing
Bird watching
4 wheel drive adventures
Kayak a safe river, lake or ocean
Animal safari
Ski adventure
Snowmobile adventure
Whale and sealife tour
Swim with humongous Whale Sharks
Barge cruising a European River
Tour a rainforest
Ecological adventure
Downside
Expensive
Not usually near a large city for those shopaholic’s. Book post days in large cities to enjoy some exciting city life.
Some adventures are out in the wilderness and may not have good water
(Check with Tour Company to be prepared)
Very early morning departures for the best viewing of animal life
Some tours may have small baggage allowance
Backcountry tours could have terrible road conditions
Educational – Explore the wonders of the world. Wander through famous museums filled with world renowned artwork, cruise down famous rivers lined with historic architecture and maybe a castle or two. Experience a farmers market firsthand where fast paced bantering between the sellers echoes down aisles filled with ripe tomatoes, celery, lemons, purple grapes and other vibrant foods. Past history comes alive as you physically touch a Corinthian column, walk through ancient Roman arches, or sit in a famous Opera House where you can listen to a Renaissance opera in period costumes. You might even want to try a cooking class in France or Italy or take a horse back riding from castle to villa in Tuscany. Transportation buffs may want to tour some of the car manufacturing plants like Alfa Romeo or Ducati, or trace the footsteps of Luther and his reformation. Educational tours are on the rise with new companies cropping up with new itineraries each year.
Upside
Learning the fun way
Take a tour
Travel on your own
Be a part of the past, present and future
Stroll through charming towns and villages
Learn a new language
Experience new cultures
Get more out of the trip than just sightseeing
Awareness of different social structures
Where to book Educational Tours
Smithsonian
Explorica - Adult and Student Travel
EF Tours – Student Travel
Elderhostel – Adult Travel
Transitions Abroad
Downside
Educational tours can be expensive
Traveling with a group
Early mornings
Late nights
Fast paced itinerary
Family Travel – Family vacations are filled with wonder for the young ones but for parents that could be a different story. Finding the right destination should be tops on the list. Children of just about any age get bored easily and that can wreak havoc with your nerves. Some families visit friends and family while others plan a theme park adventure. You normally can’t go wrong with theme parks as they enjoy the rides and the busyness of the park. If the kids wear you out at the park just go back to the hotel and relax next to the pool where they will still have a good time. Other popular hotspots with families are beach destinations like Hawaii or Cancun, or take a cruise where your kids can make plenty of friends with their children’s programs while you have fun with adult activities. Another great idea is to take special family program escorted tours. In fact Tauck Tours has special Grandparent/Grandchildren tours and are very popular.
Upside
A time to reconnect as a family
Make memories and funny situations you will talk about for years to come
Get to know your kids in a whole new way
A family trip is fun for all
Downside
Stressful situations can arise
Dealing with luggage for the whole family
Ultimately you will forget to pack some much needed item for one of the kids
Boredom
Crankiness
Sibling arguments
Kids can get distracted then lost (make sure the older ones have a cell phone with them, for younger children put your cell number in a pocket)
Backpacking – Explore the worlds most beautiful out of the way places. Climb to the top of the Rockies, walk the ruins of Machu Picchu and the Sacred Valley, or meander the lush rain forests of Costa Rica. Photograph the striking pinnacles of Patagonia and the Lake District with its rugged fjord’s and glacial lakes, or stop at a little known village in the hill country of Slovakia. Hike yourself silly all day then enjoy dinner over a blazing fire. You can pack on your own and go at your own pace or you can join a tour that has everything including what and where you eat planned out for you. Most of the walking or packing tours will be day hikes with a comfortable hotel bed and a glass of local wine waiting for you at the end of the day.
Upside
View indescribable grandeur
Take in fresh air
Visit off the beaten path destinations
See lakes, volcanoes, valleys, temples, vistas and villages only found by hiking
Get away from civilization
Meet locals and see how they live
The chance to see wildlife at its best
Slow your life down and smell the flowers
Great exercise
Tour Companies
Country Walkers
Backroads
Downside
Sore feet and blisters
Sore muscles
While hiking there are no modern conveniences
Could run into bad weather
Carrying a pack
Other Ideas – We have touched on the most popular types of travel but here are a few more suggestions that did not fit into any of these categories.
Las Vegas or gambling vacation
Fall foliage tours
Broadway Plays weekend
Shopping trips, a favorite would be the Christmas Markets of Europe
Spiritual
Spa Vacation, the total me vacation
Missions, where you help out other people in need
So what are you waiting for? Start planning your perfect getaway today!
